HAIKOU, June 25. /TASS. Projects on environmental protection and restoration will be one of the key areas for financing in China's central budget, stated Tsun Liang, deputy head of the State Committee for Development and Reforms. 

"We plan to include projects for the protection and restoration of the environment on Hainan in the list of key issues of financial support from the central budget," he said at a press conference.

As the official clarified, the Chinese government is going to focus on restoring the ecological balance in the areas of mining (in the western part of the island there are the largest surface deposits of rich iron ore in Asia, and in the southeast — significant reserves of titanium — TASS) in the province. Moreover, the authorities intend to allocate funds for a program to preserve rivers and water sources, as well as to enrich the island's wetlands.

"We will actively support the construction of facilities and the prompt elimination of infrastructure deficiencies necessary for water treatment and waste disposal in both urban and rural areas of Hainan," he added. 

According to the official, activities to improve the environment in different parts of the province will be carried out with the active cooperation of central and regional departments using advanced scientific methods. In particular, the collection of data necessary for effective environmental protection is planned to be provided through satellite technologies. "All emerging environmental problems on Hainan will be immediately recorded and swiftly resolved. The ecological situation on the island should only improve," the official summed up.

According to official statistics, Hainan continues to lead China's eco-friendly regions. Throughout 2020, experts recorded high air quality on the island, the level of harmful particles in the atmosphere amounted to minimal levels. The provincial environmental authorities report almost no serious cases of water pollution from human activities.